Florida State’s best path to an upset in Tuscaloosa may run straight through two receivers who have barely shown up so far.
Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy have been nearly invisible in the Seminoles’ offense through the first two games, combining for just 11 catches and no touchdowns. That’s a far cry from what Florida State needs against Alabama, especially if the Seminoles want to beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa for the first time in the series history.
Robinson, a 6-foot-6 target who can win ugly at the catch point, arrived with a mountain of preseason recognition and backed it up last year as a 1,000-yard receiver. He was the first Florida State receiver to reach that mark since Tammarion Terry in 2019. He also built a reputation as one of the ACC’s toughest contested-catch players, finishing 2025 with 18 contested grabs, the most of any returning receiver in the conference.
But this season, the production has not matched the profile. Robinson has only five catches for 75 yards and has yet to find the end zone. That doesn’t mean the problem sits with him alone.
Danzy brings a different kind of problem for defenses. His speed gives Florida State a vertical threat that can change the geometry of a game, and it’s the kind of weapon that should be used more often. So far, though, he’s been quiet too, with six catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns.
There’s also a more obvious way to tap into that explosiveness: get him the ball on jet sweeps and let the speed work. Against SMU, Danzy had two catches for 18 yards and a long of 21 yards.
The challenge is even steeper when you look at Alabama’s defense. The Crimson Tide are giving up 153 passing yards per game and have already forced two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns.
For Florida State, the formula is simple enough: get Robinson and Danzy into space, use their skill sets, and keep the offense balanced enough to make Alabama think twice. If Mike Norvell can do that, the Seminoles have a real shot at pulling the upset.
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The timing adds a little more weight to the situation, with the Seminoles set to face Central Arkansas on Sept. 26 at 3:00 p.m. ET during Family Weekend and the 2026 Hall of Fame class induction. Around the program, there has already been plenty of activity, from Florida State womens golf taking fifth at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup to the Splatoon esports team placing ninth in Sandusky, Ohio, but the linebackers will be one of the more closely watched spots as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]